National Wages Council to Convene for 2022/2023 Guidelines

The National Wages Council (NWC) will convene on 1 September 2022 to develop its annual guidelines, covering between 1 December 2022 and 30 November 2023, on wage and employment-related issues.

In its deliberations, the NWC will consider the economic recovery over the past year and the global economic uncertainty outlook.

As the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers recommended last year, the NWC will also set its annual guidance on the range for Progressive Wage growth for lower-wage workers.

The guidance will include details of the Occupational Progressive Wages for Administrators and Drivers, which will take effect from 1 March 2023. The NWC aims to release its guidelines in October.

NWC Chairman Peter Seah stressed the need to “press on with business and workforce transformation in order to support wage growth that is underpinned by productivity increases.”

He added: “Wage flexibility is key for our businesses to navigate economic uncertainty, increase job security for employees, and ensure that wages are adjusted in a fair and sustainable manner.”

New NWC Members

The NWC is a tripartite body comprising employer, employee and government representatives.

New members of the 2022/2023 NWC employee group include NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Tan, ST Engineering Staff Union General Secretary Sazali Zainal, Advanced Manufacturing Employees’ Union President Lim Teck Chuan, Healthcare Services Employees’ Union President K Thanaletchimi, and Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union Deputy General Secretary Lim Wen Sheng.

Public Feedback

Members of the public are welcome to share their views on wage-related issues and their suggestions on the upcoming guidelines.

They can submit their feedback to the NWC Secretariat at go.gov.sg/nwc-feedback-2022 by 9 September 2022.